We remember those from Forgotten War

Warrior's Weekend is proud to hold a parade to honor our Korean War veterans - heroes of a war known as The Forgotten War.

This moniker was given to the Korean War mostly because it came between World War II and Vietnam. It is time to show these heroes that we do remember and to honor them in a manner they deserve. We are losing many of these heroes on a daily basis, and it is time - past time, really - to do this. The We Remember parade will be held in downtown Victoria on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. In 2012, Warrior's Weekend held the "Parade That Never Was" for the Vietnam veterans, and by all accounts, it was the largest parade ever held in Victoria. As with the Vietnam veterans, Warrior's Weekend will further honor the Korean vets, their wives and any Korean War widows with a free lunch at the VFW hall on Lova Drive beginning around 11:30 a.m.

Just imagine, the Korean War lasted 37 months, and the United States lost more than 36,000 heroes - almost 1,000 per month. There are more than 8,000 listed as missing in action (MIA). All wars are terrible, but imagine the outcry today if we were losing 1,000 per month in today's wars. Although this war was supported by the United Nations, the United States, of course, supplied 88 percent of the troops. They fought in the ice, snow and mud.

Korean War veterans are coming from all over. Just this week, I was informed that one such hero is coming from Des Moines, Iowa. They are coming from Louisiana and all over Texas. There is a busload coming from Houston, and it will be escorted by some of the same law enforcement that escorts our heroes each May from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport. We encourage everyone to come out and show support to true American heroes that rarely get acknowledged. Again, everyone says "We support our veterans." This gives you the chance to show it.

Also, Warrior's Weekend VIII is on the way. After the We Remember parade, our next venture is the Muster - our main fundraiser - to be held April 5 in the Community Center dome. If you would like to attend, please contact me at 361-935-7414 or 361-572-0001. This is our fifth Muster, and we have been sold out every year. It truly is a very special evening. The Muster, along with our generous donors, allowed us to bring in more than 700 heroes plus family members last May, and we are looking forward to exceeding that number in 2014.

As a side note, there is a fundraising letter going around the Victoria area from the Victoria Wounded Warrior Project. That is not Warrior's Weekend. Please don't be confused. We don't send any funds to Kansas or anywhere else. All donations stay in our area.

Again, please come out and support our Korean War Era veterans. Please help us let them know they are not part of the Forgotten War any longer - at least not in South Texas.

Ron Kocian is president of the Warrior's Weekend organization in Victoria.